William
Mershon, a NJ patriot who became one of the first settlers in
LaurelcountyKY

William
Mershon was born on August 12, 1756 in
LawrencevilleNJ in
HunterdonCounty.
New Jersey is often
called the Crossroads of the American Revolution because of its
Geographical position located in the center of the new emerging
nation. Due to its geographical location,
New Jersey was involved in more
battles and skirmishes, Over 296 documented battles than any other
colony due to British Troop movements across the State between
New York City and
Philadelphia.
New Jersey is also called the
crossroads of the American Revolution because of the important battles
such as
Trenton and Princeton that were won by
the Continental army while fighting in
New Jersey. Winning the
battles of
Trenton and
Princeton revitalized the
Revolutionary cause. If the Continental army had lost at either place
the American Revolutionary war would have ended in
New Jersey. On November
20, 1776,
Washington crossed into
New Jersey after his defeat at
Fort LeeNY with the British army
in hot pursuit.

Mershon
joined the NJ militia in December 1776. His militia regiment was first
ordered to participate in the first battle of
Princeton but while on the way there
they were ordered back to Lawrenceville to help evacuate the city from
the encroaching British army. While marching through
New Jersey, the British
army adopted a scorched earth policy burning every town they came in
contact with during the march.
New Jersey, the seventh
most populated colony suffered more property loss than any other
colony. The bright side in all of this hell was it caused many Tories
who initially supported the Crown to become patriots and join the NJ
militia.

Mershon’s
first major battle was at the battle of
BurlingtonNJ fought on December 24, 1776,
twelve hours before the battle of
Trenton. Here Mershon and
the NJ militia defeated General Von Droop, the Hessian Commander of
all Hessian Forces in the British Colonies. This kept Von Droop from
reinforcing Col. RAll at
Trenton which helps assure a
Continental victory at
Trenton making it a
decisive turning point in the war.

Mershon
second battle was fought at the Battle of Millstone NJ on January 22,
1777. Here the NJ militia attacked a British Supply train and routed
the British capturing 40 wagons, 100 horses, 70 sheep,115 cattle and 2
cannons. During the rest of the winter of 1777, Mershon and the NJ
Militia continually harassed British supply trains using the food to
help supply the half starved Continental army.

Mershon’s
next battle was the battle was at
Bound BrookNJ. This was the first
Continental defeat in
New Jersey. Here
Cornwallis, the British commander attacked the American garrison and
defeated the continental army there.

On June
12, 1777 fought a battle at Metuchen Meeting house also called the
battle of Short hills. Here Cornwallis forced the Continental army and
NJ militia to retreat to
WestfieldNJ after firing 15
cannons continually at the Meeting House. After this battle, the NJ
militia attacked several British columns along the retreat. For this
act the British burned 50 houses between
SomersetNJ and
Perth AmboyNJ.

In
September 1777, Mershon was sent to fight in the battle of Brandywine
Creek PA. Here the NJ militia fought bravely around the
Birmingham meeting house
before being forced to retreat when The British soon broke the
Continental right flank.

On August
19, 1779, Mershon fought with Light Horse Harry lee at the battle of
Paulus hook NJ. This American victory forced the British to lose
control of half of
New Jersey

During
the battle of
Connecticut farms fought
on June 6, 1780, Mershon and the NJ militia kept the British from
overwhelming the Continental army. The NJ militia continually attacked
the British even after being driven back several times. The NJ militia
also kept the British army occupied while the Continental army
retreated.

At the
battle of
Springfield fought on June 23, 1780,
the Americans defeated the British preventing them from attacking
MorristownNJ and confiscating the
food supplies there. Most history books do not even mention the battle
of
Springfield. It is often
referred to as the forgotten victory of the American Revolutionary
war.

At the
battle of Yorktown Mershon fought under the command of
Lafayette. After the
American victory at Yorktown, the NJ militia fired cannons at the
British Located on
Staten Island during a victory
Celebration.

In
October 1782, Mershon joined the NJ militia the New Windsor Cantonment
in New Windsor NY for the last winter quarter the Continental army
would spend during the war. Here in April 1783
Washington ordered a cease fire and
an end to hostilities against
Britain.

In 1795,
Mershon moved to
LaurelcountyKY making him the first
pioneer to settle there after traveling through
Cumberland Gap. In 1796 Mershon met
Nancy Weedon and wee soon married. They had 6 children from this
union. In 1832, Mershon applied for a pension while living in
LaurelCounty. On April
11, 1841, Mershon died and was buried on his farm in
LaurelcountyKy.